It’s okay to get up late now because everyone (all the woodland creatures) is doing it. I imagine the birds snuggled together for warmth even as the day breaks. Their day moves to fit the warmth, and if my neighbor is right it’s going to keep moving–shorter days, lower temperatures. I would have dragged myself out of bed at 830 just to be near daylight were it not for my plans to be outside much of today. The sun has the only important schedule up here

Looking at clouds when I finally got out of bed at 10AM. Who cares what the weather is!? Today I am going online to talk with my loved ones yay yay! [This is a venture I take on only a couple times each week. A “digital detox” as one friend put it.]

And lookit that, as soon as I got ready the clouds cleared! The blue sky beckoned and I am obedient. Well, except to the nuthatches that swarmed and chirped and begged for attention. But then there was the blackbird that stopped me in my tracks. I was like, “No, nuthatches, I’m busy today! I will see you later.” But after that Blackbird said, “Hey check this out I just wanna make sure you know I’m not as ‘common’ as they say–” and then proceeded to sing and sing! Blackbird sang so long and hard that I got my camera out and recorded it. I guess there’s some pride in being one of the last singers of the season. Either way, this little braggart took the speed right out of my step and held me still for minutes. I left only when my neck complained. And the time when I took my camera out? 11:11AM. What a treat, to know your dreams are safe with a blackbird.